Household Products: Hidden Hazards and Safe Use

Products for cleaning, carpentry, auto repair, gardening and other household jobs can contain ingredients that harm you, your family and the environment.

Products to handle with care

• oven and drain cleaners;
• cleaning and disinfecting products, including bleach and antibacterial cleaners;
• laundry powder;
• floor polish;
• paint thinners, strippers and removers;
• pesticides;
• grease and rust removers;
• motor oil and fuel additives;
• arts and crafts supplies.

How they harm

Toxic substances can hurt you if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin. People react differently. At high doses, a toxic substance might cause birth defects or other serious harm, including brain damage or death.

Using them safely

• Keep products in their original containers.
• Use them exactly as the label says.
• If you swallow or inhale one, or get it on your skin, follow the label's directions or get medical help.

Sources

Based on "Household Products," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Environmental Protection Agency; a work of the United States government in the public domain.